Tom Barkhuysen advises General Council of Netherlands Bar on supervision of legal profession
For some time now, discussions have been held within the legal profession in the Netherlands about strengthening supervision in the sector and the establishment of a national supervisory authority ('landelijke toezichtautoriteit', LTA). Tom Barkhuysen, Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law at Leiden University and a lawyer at Stibbe, was asked for advice.
Vision on review of supervision
Originally, the General Council of the Netherlands Bar (NOvA) wanted the LTA board to consist of only lawyers. However, in order to bring in an ‘outside view’, a minority of the three- or five-member LTA board is allowed to be non-lawyers. This is also in response to ‘a broader societal desire’ to include non-lawyers in the supervision of the legal profession. The LTA will fall under the NOvA to ensure that the regulator remains independent of the state.
In a letter (in Dutch) to the Dutch Minister of Justice and Security, the General Council sets out its views on the review of supervision.
Read the full article (in Dutch) on this topic in 'Mr' magazine